Author: Majdiyya al-Ismael

NEW DELHI – The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed with the UAE and operationalised last year is a “special achievement for India’s foreign and trade policy,” the Minister of State for External Affairs, Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, told Lok Sabha, the lower House of India’s Parliament yesterday. He was answering a question by Member of Parliament (MP) Harnath Singh Yadav about “whether there are some special achievements of India’s foreign policy in the recent years, and if so, details thereof”. Dr. Singh cited the India-Israel-USA-UAE (I2U2) Summit last year as another special achievement. “India is actively promoting the acceptance…

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine said its forces shot down Russian drones and cruise missiles targeting the Black Sea port of Odesa before dawn Tuesday in what Moscow called “retribution” for an attack that damaged a crucial bridge to the Crimean Peninsula. The Russians first sought to wear down Ukraine’s air defenses by firing 25 exploding drones and then targeted Odesa with six Kalibr cruise missiles, the Ukrainian military’s Southern Command said. All six missiles and the drones were shot down by air defenses in the Odesa region and other areas in the south, officials said, though their debris and shock waves damaged…

ABU DHABI – The Ministry of Finance (MoF) today announced the launch of a digital public consultation on its website as part of the UAE Corporate Tax’s Free Zone regulations. The consultation will be open from 19th July to 2nd August 2023. This initiative reflects the significant contribution of free zones to the local economy and their integral role in stimulating growth and economic transformation locally and internationally. The digital public consultation also reflects the Ministry’s belief in the importance of consulting with the business community and relevant stakeholders to achieve the UAE’s strategic goals and consolidate the country’s position…

CHISINAU, Moldova — A Tajikistan national who was denied entry into Moldova at its main international airport grabbed a guard’s weapon and fatally shot two security officers Friday, officials said. One traveler also was wounded. The suspect was being escorted by officials at Chisinau International Airport when he “took the gun of a border guard” and opened fire, authorities said. Special forces then intervened, subdued the suspect and handcuffed him, leaving him seriously injured. All passengers were evacuated from the airport. Moldova’s Prime Minister Dorin Recean said in a statement that the suspect was from Tajikistan. He said a wounded passenger…

CAIRO: Digital logistics platform Transportr has successfully concluded its eight-figure seed funding round with the participation of Ittihad Ventures Holding and Industrial Capital Group. Established in 2020, the UAE-based company acts as a multimodal digital freight marketplace, connecting shippers and carriers across various industries to facilitate efficient, transparent, and cost-effective movement of goods. The platform addresses concerns such as freight rates, manual processes, enhanced visibility, traceability and customer service. The proceeds from the funding round will be instrumental in driving the company’s growth within the UAE market and facilitating its expansion into Saudi Arabia, a key strategic move to…

You are not Forgotten. Berlin, Brussels (1/5 – 40) The Badakhshan Mountainous Autonomous Region (GBAO) is the largest region in Tajikistan in terms of area, but the least populated in terms of population. In May and June 2022, there were deadly outcomes after President Emomali Rahmon’s regime quelled the scene of protests. Jumanazar Bayozov lived in old multi-story buildings on Sangovak Street. On May 18, he was arrested from his residence and taken to the police station. He never returned alive. “One day later, on May 19, we found his body,” said one of the people close to him. Jumanazar,…

You are not Forgotten. Berlin, Brussels (24/04 – 28.57) Tajikistan authoritarian regime under President Emomali Rahmon is holding many Pamiris in their prisons in Dushanbe, for “political” crimes as cited by the regime, including the slightest opposition to Rahmon who has ruled Tajikistan since 1994. This Eid-ul Fitr sees many such prisoners lamenting their fate in the dreaded cells while the rest of the world celebrates the joyous moment with families and loved ones. The Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) opened a criminal case against Sino Vazirbekov, the brother of civil activist Ramzi Vazirbekov, who…

Brussels (22/2 – 50) The European Union’s plan to implement the EU Hybrid Toolbox (EUHT), which was launched last year, has received supports from the EU Parliament and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The EUHT was launched in June 2022 with the intention to gather all civilian and military instruments that can be employed to counter hybrid threats. Hybrid threats combine military and non-military as well as covert and overt means, including disinformation, cyber-attacks, economic pressure, deployment of irregular armed groups and use of regular forces. In 2016, the elections in the United States were manipulated by a foreign…

According to AI Express, on the morning of February 20, the Federal Court of Malaysia opened a hearing on the application for judicial review filed by former Prime Minister Najib. The hearing will last three days from February 20 to February 22. Najib was convicted by the Federal Court of Malaysia on August 23 last year for seven counts of dishonesty, money laundering and abuse of power. The amount involved in the case amounted to 42 million ringgit (about 65.1 million yuan). A fine of 210 million ringgit (about 325.5 million yuan) was imposed. Najib has since filed an application…

The ASEAN Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) project was launched in Manila, Philippines, to develop practical and innovative ways for communities, industries and governments to work together to revitalize the rivers of Southeast Asia. East. The five-year regional project focuses on reducing pollution and preserving water flow in East Asian seas, according to the ASEAN Regional Debris Action Plan marine debris, plastic accounts for 80% of all marine debris. Supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the project will establish functional IRBM mechanisms in key river basins of six ASEAN member states: Cambodia…